Harrow.



No. 829,445. I 'PATBNTED AUG. 28-, 1905.

0. TOWER.

HARROW. APPLIUA'I'IO IT FILED OUT. 6, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A WiE-ms; es: @ca/b Jmi/ K Invent 57f" PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

0. TOWER. HARRO W. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 6

UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

I OSCAR TowER, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

HARRQW- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 1906.

Application filed October 6,1905. Serial No. 281,607.

adapting themselves to the irregularities of the ground and also topermit the sections to be readily folded compactly for transportation orstorage.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets, Figure Us atop plan view of a spring-tooth harrow embodying my improvements. Fig. 2is a fragmentary top plan view, on an enlarged scale, showing combinedmeans for attaching a spring-tooth, a c0upli11gbar, and a brace to onesection of the frame. Fig. 3 is a vertical section in line 3 3, Fig. 2.Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken in line 4. 4, Fig. 5,and showing the means for connecting the front part of one of theframe-sections with one of the front shoes, the adjacent part of thecoupling device, and the draft device. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinalsection of the same, taken in line 5 5, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a verticaltransverse section taken in line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a fragmentaryhorizontal section showing the means for connecting the coupling-rods.Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-section thereof in line 8 8, Fig. 7.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

The main frame of the harrow consists of two sections A A, each of whichhas substantially the shape of the letter S, and comprises an obliquefront part a, which extends from its front end outwardly and rearwardlyrelatively to the longitudinal center of the harrow, an intermediatepart at, extending from its front end inwardly and rearwardly, a rearpart (1 extending from its front end outwardly and rearwardly, an outerturn part a which connects the outer ends of the front and intermediateparts, and an inner turn part a which connects the inner ends of theintermediate and rear parts. These sections are arranged side by sideand have their front ends projecting inwardly, while their rear endsproject outwardly, so that the frame as a whole has an outwardly-bulgingfront portion and a fantail rear portion, the same as that shown inPatent No. 787,011, granted to myself April ,11, 1905. Each of theseframe-section's is composed of two S-shaped rods or bars I) b, -whichare parallel, or substantially so, from one end of the section to theother. jrods or bars are preferably square in cross These section andarranged with two of their flat sides in a horizontal position but thecross- SGClZlOH of these bars and the arrangement thereof. may bevaried. At different points throughout the length of each frame-sectionthese bars are connected by clamping devices, nearly all of which areconstructed so that they perform the additional function of supportingspring-teeth E, an adjusting-shoe, or other part to be mounted on theframe. The fixtures which connect the frame-bars at the ends thereofalso support teeth E, as shown in Fig. 1. The central tooth E of theharrow is preferably attached to the inner turn a of the section A ofthe frame by an oblique bracket I.

K K represent two V-shaped coupling rods or bars which comprise part ofthe means for flexibly connecting the two sections of the harrow frame.These cou )lin bars have their central parts connected and their endsdiverging forwardly and rearwardly, so as to give the same substantiallythe form of the letter X. The preferred means of connecting the centralparts of the coupling-rods c011- sists of two clamping-plates 7c is,each of which is provided on its inner side with a pair of V-shapedrecesses or grooves 76, which receive the angular central parts of thetwo coupling-rods on one side thereof. The two clamping-plates areclamped against opposite sides of the rods by means of a clip k arrangedoutside of the rods, or by any other suitable means. The coupling-rodsare preferably constructed of round iron, whereby these rods whileforming a substantial connection between the sections of the harrowframepossess enough elasticity to permit the required amount of independentmovement relative to each other when subjected to torsional strains. Atits rear end each of the coupling-rods is pivotally connected with aharrow-frame section, so as to permit the same to turn in a verticalplane for adapting it to any irregularities of the ground independent ofthe other section and also permit the sections to be folded over eachother transversely for compactness in shipping or IIO transportation.These pivotal connections are preferably combined with the holders ofthe teeth E on the intermediate frame parts a near the inner turns a,the same being best shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and constructed asfollows:

L represents a longitudinal wrist, formed on the rear end of eachcoupling-bar and having a depending arm or lug Z at its rear end. ThisWrist is journaled in a divided box or bearing, the lower part Z ofwhich is formed on the top clamping-plate Z of the adjacenttooth-holder, while the upper part Z is held in place relatively to thelower part by means of one arm of the clip Z, which fastens said topplate and the companion lower plate L against opposite sides of theframe-bars and the corresponding tooth against the seat on the underside of the lower plate L. Adjacent to the outer side of the lug or armZ the top plate Z is provided with a stop Z which is adapted tocooperate with said arm and limit the downward movement of therespective section relatively to the couplingrods and the otherframe-section.

The pivotal connections between the front ends of the coupling-rods andthe front parts of the frame-sections are shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6and are each constructed as follows:

M represents a longitudinal wrist formed on j tions, and a flexibleconnection between said 1 sections conslstmg of two V-shaped rods thefront of each coupling-rod and provided on its front end with adepending lug or arm m. This wrist is j ournaled in a divided box orbearing, the lower part m of which is formed on an upperor topclamping-plate m which is grooved on its under side, as

'shown at m, and fitted over the adjacent frame-bars, while its upperpart M is secured to the lower part m by a bolt m passing through theupper part, the top clampingplate m and the lower clamping-plate mhaving grooves m in its upper side, which are held in engagement withthe under side of the frame-bars. In front of the bearing m h the topplate m is provided with a laterally-opening recess m into which the armm projects. The front and rear sides of this recess limit thelongitudinal movement of the wrist in its bearing by engagement of thearm m with its sides, while the bottom or back of this recess serves asa stop which cooperates with said arm for limiting the vertical rockngmovement of the frame-section relatively to the coupling-rods. The frontends of the top plates at terminate in eyes N, which are connected bylinks a with a crosspiece a of the rigging, whereby the harrow isattached to the draft-animals.

For the purpose of aiding the couplingbars in keeping the frame-sectionsthe proper distance apart a brace-bar, tie-rod, or stay 0 is providedwhich is pivotally connected at opposite ends with the central parts ofthe frame-sections. The pivotal connection between the brace and theframe-sections is preferably effected byforming hooks 0 at the ends ofthe brace and engaging the same with the wrists L L of the coupling-rodsin front of the rear bearings Z 1 as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.Adjacent to the backs of the hooks 0 the top plates Z are provided withrecesses 0 into which these hooks project. Each of these recesses is soconstructed that the sides thereof confine the respective hook againstlongitudinal movement on the wrist, while the back thereof serves as astop to limit the lateral movement of the hook and wrist, therebypreventing these parts from becoming detached.

For the purpose of varying the depth which the teeth are permitted toenter the ground each of the frame-sections is supported at its front,rear, and intermediate portions by shoes P P P", which are adjustablyconnected with the frame for producing this effect.

I claim as my invention- 1. A harrow comprising two frame-sections, anda flexible connection between said sections consisting of two V-shapedrods which are connected at their central parts and have their endsdiverging and connected pith the frame-sections, substantially as setorth.

2. A harrow comprising two frame-secwhich have their central partsopposing each other While their ends diverge and are connected with saidframe-sections, and clamping-plates secured to opposite sides of thecentral parts of said rods, substantially as set forth.

3. A harrow comprising two frame-sections, and a flexible connectionbetween said sections consisting of two V-shaped rods having theircentral parts opposing each other while their corresponding ends divergeand are connected with said frame-sections, cooperating clamping-platesprovided in their opposing sides with V-shaped grooves which receive thecentral parts of said rods, and

bolts connecting said plates, substantially as set forth.

4. A harrow comprising two frame sections, a flexible connection betweensaid sections comprising coupling-rods having wrists, and bearings onsaid frame-sections in which said wrists are journaled, substantially asset forth.

5. A harrow comprising two frame sections, a flexible connection betweensaid sections comprising coupling-rods having wrists, bearings on saidframe-sections in which said wrists are journaled and means for limitingthe turning movement of said rods and framesections relatively to eachother, substantially as set forth.

6. A harrow comprising two frame sections, a flexible connection betweensaid sec tions comprising coupling-rods having wrists, bearings on saidframe-sections in which said wrists are journaled and means for limitingthe turning movement of said rods and framesections relatively to eachother comprising arms arranged on said wrists and stops arranged on saidframes and adapted to engage with said arms, substantially as set forth.

7. A harrow comprising two frame-sections, a flexible connection betweensaid sections comprising coupling-rods having wrists,

bearings on said frame-sections in which said wrists are journaled,stop-arms arranged on said wrists, and supporting-plates for saidbearings mounted on said frame-sections and provided with stops withwhich said arms engage, substantially as set forth. 7

8. A harrow comprising two frame-sections, a flexible connection betweensaid frames, and a transverse brace between said sections, substantiallyas set forth.

9. A harrow comprising two frame-sections, a flexible connection betweensaid sections comprising coupling-rods having wrists, bearings on saidframe-sections in which said wrists are journaled and a transverse bracehaving hooks at its ends which engage with the wrists of said rods,substantially as set forth.

10. A harrow comprising two frame-sections, coupling-rods having wrists,bearings in which said wrists are journaled, supporting-plates for saidbearings mounted on said frame-sections and provided with recessesadjacent to said bearings, and a transverse brace having hooks at itsends which are arranged in said recesses and engage with said wrists,substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 28th day of September, 1905.

OSCAR TOWER. Witnesses:

THEo. L. POPP,

MAY E. MCARTHUR.

